Wärtsilä nets US LNG bunker barge order

The technology group Wärtsilä has been contracted to provide equipment for an LNG articulated tug barge (ATB) being built at the VT Halter Marine shipyard in Pascagoula, for Q-LNG.

The vessel, which will operate on a long-term charter with Shell, will be used to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel to cruise ships along the east coast of Florida.

This will be the first fuelling barge with a Wärtsilä solution operating in US waters, Wärtsilä said on Tuesday.

The ATB, comprising a barge and a tug, will have a 4000 cubic meter capacity and will be fitted with a Wärtsilä LNG cargo storage, handling, and control system.

Wärtsilä will also supply the barge automation, power management, and ballast water management systems, as well the bow thruster. The tug will include Wärtsilä main propulsion steerable thrusters and shaft lines, Wärtsilä dynamic positioning system, the tug automation, as well as all navigation and communication equipment.

Deliveries will continue throughout 2018 and 2019, and the vessel is scheduled to commence operations in 2020.

Quality Liquefied Natural Gas Transport (Q-LNG) is owned 70 percent by Shane Guidry and 30 percent by Harvey Gulf International Marine, a company that currently has six vessels under construction or in operation with LNG solutions supplied by Wärtsilä.